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News analysis This year's Australian federal budget was predictably light on support for science research and development, according to commentators who are pinning their hopes on next year's budget.

They say the Labor government's post-election budget has delivered a number of promises to universities and other research institutions but is deferring key investments in r&d until innovation and higher education reviews are complete.

"We'd been told not to expect a great deal on science and technology and that was indeed the case," says president of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Kurt Lambeck.

Included in the budget is a one-off A$500 million Better Universities Renewal Fund for universities to spend immediately on upgrading libraries, laboratories, computer systems, study spaces, teaching spaces and student amenities.

The budget also commits A$11 billion to an Education Investment Fund to repair crumbling infrastructure in universities, research and vocational training institutions.

But this will not be spent until the second half of next year, after the outcome of a higher education review.

Call to support 'intellectual infrastructure'

Lambeck welcomes such capital expenditure.

"There's no doubt that our universities are run down so I think that's a good thing," he says.

But he believes the government should have signalled more recognition of the importance of science, technology and engineering in solving current problems.

"Despite the government's commitment to innovation, innovation was mentioned only three times in the budget speech," says Lambeck.

"There's very little recognition that the real infrastructure for the future is going to have to be intellectual infrastructure."